Somebeachsomewhere filly Venice Beach bounced back after a last start fifth to win the Macca Lodge Fillies and Mares Mobile Pace at Ascot Park on Saturday.
The three year old owned by local lawyer Lester Smith has been a project for Winton trainer Lauren Pearson and partner Brent Barclay who drove the filly to win.
"We like her but she hasn't beaten anything much yet so she's got to take the next step up and race against the better ones. But she went 42 (time of 2 minutes -42 seconds) today so hopefully you don't have to go too much better," said Pearson.
She ran a promising third at her first start at Gore last month – charging home for third. She then ran fifth on her home track at Winton two weeks later.
"We were disappointed (at Winton) but when that horse crashed beside her (Ivy May Delight) she got all stirred up and she started kicking and bucking. Then she gave them a big head start. She then went round the field and did a wee bit of work. When you take all that into account she didn't go too bad."
After that run Pearson and Barclay decided to revert to the plan they had at Gore and take her out onto the track early.
"She doesn't like horses rushing up behind her when you first go out onto the track. We did it at Gore and it worked so we're just going to keep doing it."
They're also going to keep her on the unruly mark.
"Brent said if she sees the mobile it'll drive her silly. We'll take our time with her and keep her where she is and where she's happy."
Venice Beach out wide winning her maiden Photo by Bruce Stewart
Venice Beach is out of the one win Christian Cullen mare Galleons Honour who qualified and won for Auckland trainer Gareth Dixon. She was purchased by Smith in June 2010 and had three unsuccessful starts at Forbury for Pearson that month.
Galleons Honour is out of Galleon's Cheer a promising Albert Albert mare that won five of her nine starts for Ryal Bush trainer Hamish Hunter before a bone disorder in her foot ended her racing career. Galleons Honour is a half sister to Cheer The Lady, the winner of eleven races.
So does Venice Beach have the potential to be a Southland Oaks filly?
"It's hard to say because she's still growing. I really haven't had an Oaks filly to compare her with. She's got a lot of top speed even in track work. Nothing can go with her in track work."
The promise that this well bred filly shows is going to have to be managed.
"We'll take her home and see how she eats up. She didn't eat that well after her run at Winton. We'll have a look round (at the programme) and look for a race. But she's not a kids horse (junior driver) so Brent will carry on driving her and we'll just have to place her."
Galleons Honour has left more well bred progeny and Lester Smith and Pearson have a two year old colt by American Ideal on the production line. His name is Duke Of Wellington.
"He's very big so is going to take time but he's got a lovely way of going and a laidback nature like his brother (Dazed and Confused)."
Bruce Stewart